APP Email 7.27.05 (b)
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The United States is set to announce a new pact called "Beyond Kyoto" to combat climate change by developing energy technologies. The pact includes the US, China, India, Australia, and South Korea and aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions without setting strict targets. It will be formally announced the next day by the US Deputy Secretary of State and representatives of the other countries. While some see it as a useful step, others are critical that it could divert funds away from renewable technologies and undermine the Kyoto Protocol.
APP Email 7.27.05 (b)
- 1. From: White House News Update To: Hannegan, Bryan Jlj CC: Subject: Reuters - U.S. to amiounce "Beyond Kyoto" greenhouse pact Date: Wednesday, July 2ff, 2005 9:25:45 AM Attachments: U.S. to announce 'Beyond Kyol o' greenhouse pact By Michelle Nichols CAN-BERRA (Reuters) - The world's op polluter, the United States, is set to unveil a pact to combat global warming by developing energy technology aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions, officials and diplomats said on Wednesday. China and India, whose burgeoning economies comprise a third of humanity, as well as Australia and South Korea are also part of the agreement to tackle climate change beyond the Kyoto protocol. Kyoto requires a cut in greenhouse e issions by 5.2 percent below 1990 levels by 2008-12 but the United States and Au 3tralia have never ratified the protocol because it excluded major developing~ nations such China and India. Diplomats in the Laotian capital Vien ane said the pact would be formally announced on Thursday when U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick holds a press conference attended by iepresentatives of the other signatories. Zoellick is attending a regional forum in Laos. Details of the pact remain unclear but it appears to echo recent comments by President Bush who advocated the use of technology in curbing growth in greenhouse gas emissions rather than setting targets he believes threaten the U.S. economy. Australian Environment Minister Ian Campbell said on Wednesday that the five
- 2. countries had been quietly working on the pact for months. "It's quite clear the Kyoto protocol wo 't get the world to where it wants to go.. We have got to find something that wc rks better -- Australia is working on that with partners around the world," Caml bell told reporters onf Wednesday. LIMITED USE The Kyoto protocol, first agreed in 19 7, came into force in February after Russia ratified the pact but analysts say the p otocol is of limited use because many signatories are already above their emission targets. "We need to expand the energy the w rld consumes and reduce the emissions. That's going to need new technologies, it's going to need the development of new technologies and the deployment of them within developing countries," Campbell said. As economies expand, the world is consuming more energy and is producing more greenhouse gas emissions, particular 4 carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels y such as coal in power plants and petcl in cars. Many scientists say emissions need tcbe cut by 50 percent to try to limit the impact of global warming. "I think it is a good idea because the evelopment of these technologies is important and I've always said there has to be a partnership between North and South in these technologies. This is one way of working together," said Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. "It does not interfere with the Kyoto rtocol," he said. Japan, the world's number two economy, appeared to welcome the pact but others were critical. "This is all about taxpayers money being diverted from developing clean renewable technologies to try and m ke burning coal less dirty," Bob Brown,
- 3. statement. leader of the minority Australian Greet s party, said in a while the United States Australia and China are the world's lar est coal exporters, is also a top exporter. It could be a useful "If it's an agreement about appropriate ehology transfer. to deal with tool, but not at the expense of the only international agreement Catherine Fitpatrick. climate change," said Greenpeace Ene gy Campaigner said world temperatures A panel of scientists that advises the ntd Nations has 2100, triggering more are likely to rise between 1.4 and 5.8 degrees Celsius by and driving thousands of frequent floods, droughts, melting of icecaps and glaciers species to extinction. has increased by about 0.6 Scientists say the planet's average sur ace temperature degrees Celsius over the past century. of the huge amount of extra Researchers say further warming is in vitable because activities but the degree of carbon dioxide pumped into the atmo phere by man's gas emissions future warming hinges on how nations control their greenhouse Himangshu Watts now. (Additional reporting by Jon He rskovitz in VIENTIANE, in NEW DELHI and Masayuki Kitano in TOKYO) Bryan-.. You are currently subscribed to New! Update (wires) as: -Hannegan~ceq.eop3.gov. To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-whitehouse-news-wires- 10071ls~wieos~o